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Delicious Mandarin Orange Muffins Recipe

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You’re going to love the taste and flavor of this simple Mandarin Orange Muffins Recipe! Starting off the day with this easy recipe will give everyone that boost of energy that they need. The orange flavoring is flavorful and makes for a simple and special treat. Make sure to check out my recipes with oranges for even more great ideas!

When you find out how simple it can be to prep and make these muffins, you’re going to wonder what took you so long to find this recipe! I’ve been making them for years and they’re one of our favorite treats.

I really love that this recipe uses real oranges in it. Not just orange zest or orange flavoring, but actual mandarins are in the list of ingredients. To me, that’s huge and is what sets these muffins apart from the rest.

Mandarin Orange Muffins Recipe

Since this orange muffin recipe is actually full of pieces of mandarin oranges, it adds a fun texture where each bite literally gives you a perfectly balanced taste of orange. Plus, once you mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, you’re pretty much ready to start baking! I love that about this recipe and is probably one of the biggest reasons why I don’t mind eating them over and over again.

Our household is all about having yummy foods that are easy to grab so muffins are always a hit! I make these a lot during the summer and fall months because they’re just such a great light and citrus flavor! The boys LOVE when I make them too because they’re like a great balance of dessert and breakfast.

How do you know when muffins are done baking in the oven?

The easiest way to tell if something is done baking is to insert a clean toothpick into the middle of the muffin. If it comes out clean, it’s done and ready to be pulled. If it comes out with batter on it, they need to bake a bit longer.

Specialty Ingredients:

The following ingredients are affiliate links on Amazon because they may be a bit hard to find in your normal store.  I wanted you to be able to see exactly which things we are using.

Reminder, not all ingredients in the Orange Muffin Recipe are linked above, just the ones that may be a bit difficult to find or that you might be unsure of what to look for

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The following items can be found in my kitchen here at Miller Manor. Simply click the image that interests you – yes, they do contain affiliate links.

Must Have Resources:

When making Easy Muffins Made with Oranges at home, you really need to have the following Amazon affiliate tools on hand.

        

 

Make it a Meal:

Meal planning is one of my favorite ways to get ahead and prepared for the week! I love knowing that I can get organized for all the meals in a super short amount of time. If you haven’t meal planned before, now is the time to start!

Main Dish: Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole The Kids Love

Vegetable Side: Asparagus on George Foreman Grill

Starch Side: Loaded Baked Steak Fries Recipe

Refreshing Drink: Super Tasty Blue Mocktail Recipes

Best Muffin Recipes:

Once you make this Mandarin Orange Muffin Recipe, you’re going to have muffins on the mind. Luckily I’m a muffin hound as well and I gathered up some of my favorite recipes for muffins that I can’t wait to share with you!

I love making this Easy Pumpkin Mini Muffins Recipe for fall!

Check out how simple and easy it is to get this Blueberry Muffin Cheesecake Recipe on the table!

These Corn Dog Muffin Bites are going to be a hit with the kids!

These Banana Crumb Muffins are delicious and so simple to make!

Check out this simple dinner idea to make Cheesy English Muffin Pizzas!

Make sure to make these Lemon Poppy Seed Jam Filled Muffins!

You don’t want to miss out on making this Oatmeal Raisin Muffins Recipe!

Can you make muffins ahead of time and freeze them?

You can! If you want to make them ahead of time and put them in the freezer, this is a great way to meal prep and have them ready to unthaw quickly and easily.

What are some mistakes to avoid when making muffins?

Muffins are a delicious and easy treat to whip up, but unfortunately, they can also be a source of frustration for inexperienced bakers. Avoiding some common mistakes can improve your muffin-making game and elevate your results.

One crucial mistake is overmixing the batter, which can result in tough and dense muffins. To avoid this, mix the batter gently until just combined.

Another mistake is using cold ingredients. To ensure a fluffy texture, use room temperature ingredients, including eggs, butter, and milk.

Lastly, resist the urge to open the oven door repeatedly while baking. This can cause fluctuations in temperature and affect the rise of the muffins.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can make perfect muffins every time!

What happens when you overmix during the muffin method?

Overmixing during the muffin method can lead to a tough and dense texture. This occurs because overmixing activates the gluten in the flour, resulting in the formation of too much gluten structure.

The muffin batter should be mixed until it is just uniform and consistent, meaning that there are no visible streaks of flour remaining.

To avoid overmixing, it is necessary to use a gentle, folding motion when combining the wet and dry ingredients.

So, next time you bake muffins, remember to take it easy with the mixing and your muffins will be light, fluffy, and delicious.

Should muffin batter be thick or runny?

While some argue that a thick batter results in denser, more moist muffins, others swear by a runnier batter for lighter, fluffier muffins. It’s ultimately a matter of personal preference and experimenting to find what works best for you.

However, keep in mind that certain recipes may call for a specific consistency of batter and deviating from this may alter the texture and overall outcome of your muffins.

It’s always a good idea to follow the recipe closely until you become comfortable with making adjustments.

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Should muffin batter be lumpy or smooth?

Some argue that lumps in the mix can lead to pockets of air in the final baked product, resulting in a lighter, fluffier muffin. Others prefer a smooth batter, which allows for a more uniform texture and better distribution of ingredients.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and the desired outcome of the muffins.

Regardless of the method chosen, it’s important to remember to not overmix the batter, as this can lead to a tough and dense muffin.

So go ahead, experiment with lumpy and smooth mixtures and discover which yields the perfect muffin for you.

What can I add to muffin mix to make it moist?

One popular option is yogurt, which adds moisture and a tangy flavor to your muffins. Another great option is applesauce, which is not only a great source of moisture, but also adds a subtle sweetness to your muffins.

You can also try adding some mashed bananas or canned pumpkin to your muffin mix, both of which can add a nice texture and flavor to your muffins while also helping to keep them moist.

So the next time you’re mixing up a batch of muffins, don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients to achieve the perfect level of moisture.

Can I use other fruit to make these muffins?

You bet. While I love the flavor of fresh mandarin oranges, you don’t have to make these with an orange mixture or orange pieces in the muffin batter. Changing fruit is one of the easiest ways to change the taste and texture of these large muffins. 

You can add strawberries, blueberries, or any other type of fruit that you want to this recipe. Just add, then fill the muffin tins or muffin cups as the recipe suggests. I like to spoon batter into the paper liners because it can get a bit messy, but that’s up to you. 

The muffins will bake golden brown no matter what fruit that you add! You can change them up for the holiday season, or just when the craving strikes. Don’t forget to let them cool for a bit on a wire rack, and you can easily whip up a glaze in a separate bowl. 

These would also be great for a quick breakfast and a great way to enjoy a yummy treat! 

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More Orange Recipes:

Yummy Orange Muffins Recipe

Yummy Orange Muffins Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

These orange muffins are so good for breakfast!

Ingredients

  • 10 oz of mandarin oranges , drained
  • 1 medium egg slightly beaten.
  • 1 ½ cup of flour.
  • ½ cup of sugar.
  • ½ cup of butter.
  • ¼ cup of milk.
  • 1 ¾ teaspoon of baking powder.
  • ½ teaspoon of salt.
  • ¼ teaspoon of allspice.
  • ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg.

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Sift the flour with all of the other dry ingredients.
  3. Add the butter.
  4. Mix together the beaten egg and the milk, then add to dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.
  5. Fold in the mandarin orange pieces.
  6. Fill greased muffin tins (or use liners) about three-quarters full.
  7. Bake for 25 minutes.
  8. Serve as desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 229mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Are you going to add any glaze topping to these orange muffins or eat them as is?

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Bethany

Thursday 28th of January 2021

Well I clearly read the ingredients thoroughly and my 4 yr old daughter and I sqeezed 10 Oz of juice and only used the juocešŸ„“ We crossed our fingers as they baked and ended up with super duper moist muffins(actually almost like a cake) with that beautiful subtle taste of mandarin. I also found a hiccup when we got to the butter..did we need to melt the butter or have it room temp?

Kelli Miller

Wednesday 3rd of February 2021

Oh no! That is totally something I would do! I bet they were SUPER moist. LOL! :-)

Cerys

Tuesday 2nd of January 2018

These made the most delicious breakfast for the family. The kids loved the orange in them as it was unusually. They can't wait till I make them again.

Sara

Monday 6th of January 2014

You call for mandarin oranges, drained. I'm confused. If using fresh peeled oranges, what is there to drain? Am I to use canned oranges, and if so is the 10 oz. before or after draining? Thanks! Can't wait to try!

Kelli Miller

Monday 6th of January 2014

when you chop your oranges into pieces, you are going to get quite a bit of juice - you don't want to include that in the recipe, you want to drain that off :-)

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